growing up I was given the impression that Hubert hoover was a laissez-faire capitalist who caused the great depression and tried to do nothing to end it. however, reading more about him in the book "America in the Twenties: A History" by Geoffrey Perret has totally reshaped my view on him. to me, he seems less like some sort of libertarian smuck who just told America to be rugged individuals and then pissed off for 4 years and more a hard-working and intelligent man who had the potential to become one of America's most effective presidents only to enter the oval office at the worse possible time because of factors far beyond his control. I am well aware that he made some major mistakes like accepting the farmers demands for the Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act and his failed government schemes to give private enterprise the tools to self regulate, but overall he gave it his all to fight the depression, the problem was that his 'all' wasn't good enough nor would anyone elses if they were put in the same position as he was.
but id like to hear this subs opinion on the matter.
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